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Current Membership (May 10)... 110
SA...38, Qld...32, WA...5, NSW...18, ACT...2,
Vic...12, Tas...1, USA...2
Membership in
Choppers Australia...
Choppers
Australia is a chopper rider network. It has been set up as a help and meeting place for folks who
love choppers and bobbers.
The spirit of Choppers
Australia...
Choppers Australia is about chopping the old school and classic way.
Mostly home built
stuff, not necessarily flash. Sometimes built quickly, sometimes as
money and time allows.
It's about building a
chop no matter how tough it is. Scraping up money, selling
what you don't really need, to buy your parts and tools or pay for
work. Learning skills, going to night school so you can learn
to weld etc, swapping time for help... perhaps starting off
with a small bike for practice...
It's about a love of
chops and determination to ride one, sweating out a year maybe more,
dreaming of the day when your part-built bike will finally hit the
road. Or... riding a half chopped bike that gets a bit closer
to the mark each payday. It's about building your bike quickly
because it's the riding you love... or taking hours to design and
craft every individual piece... breathing life
into every part... creating an expression of your own very
being...
It's about cruising out
on the road on a bike that's different to any other. Its about
loving a stance and a style that's unique in the bike world...
that cries... "Look at me... I built this. I designed
this. I sweated to pay for this. I don't care what the
rest think. It's mine and I love it. I love riding it.
I love just sitting and looking at it. It calls me to the open
road every time I see it..."
It's about being in the
wind with a bunch of other choppers and hanging out with your
chopper buddies... and loving to look at what they have built.
And enthusiastically discussing each other's bikes and where you're
going next.
Of course, many of us
aren't twenty something any more and many have families and
responsibility. And there are pillions, there are friends and
partners who do all those helpful things like driving backup,
carrying gear on weekenders, doing photography, preparing food,
keeping the club books etc etc... and even they'll jump on the
back of another member's chopper at a moment's notice 'cause they
have the spirit...
And it's that same
spirit that draws your kids, and their friends (the next generation
of chopper jockeys) into building and riding their own dream
choppers. This is what Choppers Australia is all about...
communicating in thought, word and deed the special and exciting
world of the old school and classic chopper.
Choppers Australia is about helping
each other enjoy our choppers to the max. It is
about supporting and encouraging each other...swapping parts,
helping in the shed, discussions by the hundreds of just how that
chopper is going to look, getting together on the big day... the
first ride and then riding together. It is about
freedom. It is about respecting and accepting each other
and their choice of machine, their choice of style and when and
where they choose to ride.
Choppers Australia is about a love of
choppers and the love of a lifestyle that is unique in the sport of
motorcycling.
It's this spirit, your love of
choppers, your eagerness to ride one and be around them at every
opportunity that Choppers Australia wishes to foster... so that you
can contribute your knowledge, your love of and enthusiasm
about choppers to every other biker you
meet...
Choppers Australia
members join for three main reasons...
1. For the chopper
information and idea-sharing
available via club gatherings and the website...
2. To meet and ride
with other chopper enthusiasts...
3. To be involved in a
'G rated", family friendly chopper club where your partners and kids
can join in on all our activities with out embarrassment... and have
a great time together...
Who is eligible...
Membership is available to anyone who is keen on
choppers and either has one, is building one or is planning a
chopper. Choppers Australia is very loosely organised with no committees and
organisational meetings... just a bunch of chopper enthusiasts
getting together to ride and share info. Local groups organise their
own runs and get togethers. They send in their details to be put up
on website.
Membership fees... cover
quarterly Newsletter subscription and literature, postage costs etc.
Membership is your opportunity to...
1. support Choppers Australia in the
achievement of its aims,
2. send other chopper enthusiasts to and
3. to have a sense of belonging to an exciting
movement... the re-emergence of the home built old school and
classic chopper
Choppers Australia ethics…
You will find the following outline
of Choppers Australia club's ethics on page six of our Application
Form...
On applying for and subsequently
accepting membership, you are
agreeing to abide by them...
Our
purpose… Andrew(Prof) & Rilda with the
support of Jerry and
Henry began Choppers Australia in Willunga, South Australia in
September 2005… our aim… to provide a place for chopper
enthusiasts to meet, share information, help each other and ride
together. While we are continuing to improve how we do this, our
original purpose will not change...
Social
club… We are not a patch club or a localised motorcycle club.
We are not trying to be the “only chopper club”. We do not attempt
to control members outside club activities. We do not require
minimum attendances for a member to be considered “active”. We recognise that
chopper riders are individualists and encourage them to build
their bikes as they want. Choppers Australia members can be
members of other clubs.
Choppers Australia is no place for power games, self promotion
or so called biker attitude. The one guiding principle for
Chopper Australia members (including all who hold official
positions) is to encourage, help and promote one another. We
believe that abiding by this 'golden rule' can only cause each
of us and Choppers Australia success and enjoyment... which is
what choppers is all about...
Organization… We are purposely not super organised and do not
have a “voted in” committee. Clubs in general are notorious for
committees overtaken by "politics" and this is one thing we are
very anxious to avoid. One of the functions of
the state coordinators is to act as an 'advisory board' to Prof in
decision making. All members are encouraged to
present their ideas for the club and when decisions need to be
made all members opinions are asked for via the members forums
and quarterly member newsletter.
Finances… Membership fees go towards literature, club banners
etc merchandise and a percentage to ChoppersAustralia.com. A financial statement
listing basic income and expenditure is included in the
members' section of our quarterly magazine, 'Chops 'n Bobbers.
ChoppersAustralia.com website… is operated
for Choppers Australia by Andrew (club founder) .
On applying for Choppers
Australia membership you agree to the following...
Respect
and promote each other... relationships
succeed when members think the best of each other, never assuming
what is being thought by the other person, but always talking
things out... treating your friends even better than you would
want them to treat you. Relationships succeed when members don't
have to prove themselves to the others and are happy when others
are recognised for their achievements without jealousy at being
bypassed.
If you have a
disagreement with or feel slighted by another member, assume his
best intentions and if you need to say anything, speak to him in... private.
Gossip and criticising others behind their backs has no place in
this organisation. If you
believe a person's actions are affecting Choppers Australia, after
speaking with them, contact your state coordinator or club
founder…
ChoppersAustralia.com and Choppers Australia literature and events are G rated... Members who attend
Choppers Australia events are expected to present a positive
image, both in their language and behaviour. If you need to prove
your manliness find another place to do it…
Be
courteous on the road… When riding your chopper in runs
organised by Choppers Australia you are expected to behave
courteously to other road users and obey road rules…
Colours
on runs… Unless organised by prior arrangement, members of
other clubs, taking
part in runs organised by Choppers Australia members are asked not
to wear their club’s back patches...
Unity of
purpose... especially in the face of "biker unfriendly"
legislation is important to all bikers and can be had with out
formal ties. Each CA member can foster that "unity in
individuality" by our respect for other bikers and clubs...
If you
cannot abide by the above... please do not join. Members who
after a warning are considered by the management of Choppers
Australia (founder in consultation with state coordinators) to be divisive or
to be endangering others on
rides will lose their membership and all rights and privileges
that go with membership.
How to become a member....
Contact us...
for your membership application form. Include some details about
yourself, your bike(-s) and include your phone number and postal
details.
An application form will be sent once
the club founder or your state coordinator has spoken with you. You can call Andrew
on 08 8556 2554, Email:
Andrew@choppersaustralia.com or private message Andrew (Prof)
via forums. Return Application Form with cheque or money order
or if local pay cash. You can
also pay into Choppers Australia's ANZ bank account (details
available on request).
Membership
Cost... Membership
currently costs $35 per annum and after your first year, is due
either on 1st July or 1st Jan. When you become a member you
receive a membership card, a FREE
Choppers Australia Bumper Sticker and a year's FREE subscription to
our 16 page quarterly magazine, Chops 'n Bobbers. You will also
have access to the website Members Forum, so you can have input into
club activities...
Cloth
Badge, T shirt etc...
Members
are eligible to wear the Choppers Australia cloth badge , members
beanie and T shirt while they
are current paid up members. The 100mm x80mm cloth badge
identifies you as an active member of Choppers Australia club and is
worn on the sleeve or breast only. (See Members Merchandise page on
our forums)
It is expected that when identifying
yourself as a Choppers Australia member, you will conduct
yourself in accordance with the ethics and principles by which
Choppers Australia operates. Choppers Australia does not have
a back patch.
Membership in
other clubs...
Membership in Choppers Australia does
not prevent you from holding membership in other clubs.
Membership
benefits...
Ride with others of like mind...
Chopper builders and riders are
getting together through their contact with Choppers Australia...
There may be a chopper enthusiast just 10 mins from you. We
get a real kick out of helping you get together with other chopper
enthusiasts. If you want to meet and ride with other
local chopper jockeys, contact us, Three of
four or more choppers together is a REAL BLAST!... After you've
gotten to know a few of us, you might just like to become a
member...
South Australian and Queensland
members have monthly runs... keep your eye
on the "Next events..." webpage...
There are
members in most states that we can put into contact with you.
Information...
Choppers Australia's quarterly
magazine, 'Chops 'n Bobbers, website, and club activities are a
valuable source of
chopper information. Sharing literature and ideas amongst
members is another great benefit of being involved with local club
activities and participating on forums.
Membership in Choppers Australia gives you access to
all back issues of Chops 'n Bobbers on line including members forums and a
the
members newsletter.
Sense of Belonging...
Members can show their
love of choppers through their use of Choppers Australia shirts,
stickers and other merchandise and members can wear the
official Choppers Australia cloth badge. Being a member gives you an
incentive and way of helping other chopper jocks enjoy the same
benefits. Your membership includes your partner and your children up
to 16 years of age.
Discounts to club members....
We have organised some discounts from
South Australian businesses to Choppers Australia club members on
Batteries... Chrome plating & polishing... Panel work,
fibre glassing & spray painting... Old school style mods & custom
handlebars, etc... Get
your suppliers in your state to contact us and advertise... and give a special
discount to Choppers Australia card holders. Chopper building
and riding is back and they WILL benefit...
Support wherever you are...
Choppers Australia is based in South Australia
and began officially in October of 2005. In SA, our members
are riders of chopped Hondas, triumphs, XS 650 Yams, a Virago and
Harleys. We have members in all states but NT. Members
in SA and Qld currently organise monthly runs. See website
"Next Event..." and "Reports..." webpages.
The information, photos
and chats available through our website and forums are aimed at
shrinking the distances within and between states.
Network of mates...
Find other like minded chopper
enthusiasts... Get onto the CHOPPER CHAT FORUM and
tell everyone you're out there.
If you're not into
computers, let us know who you are, about your bike and some contact
details and we will happily put you in contact with others near you
as they come to our notice.
Travelling interstate?...
Why not visit
(and even stay with) other club members. Register your
interest and if some one is coming near you, we will assist you to
offer them your hospitality.
Club and individual rides...
Club
members get around, so new members where ever you are will be visited by some one at
some time.
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